Method for operating a telecommunications system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for operating a telecommunications system and to a corresponding telecommunications system comprising at least one centralized device and at least one telecommunications terminal device, which is configured for communicating with the centralized device and/or other telecommunications terminal devices. The invention is characterized in that one or more control programs are stored in the centralized device, whereby the control programs can be activated by signals of the telecommunications terminal device in order to initiate one or more functions in the telecommunications terminal device, in the centralized device and/or in other telecommunications terminal devices.

[0001] The invention relates to a method for the operation of atelecommunication system and a telecommunication system according to thepreamble of the independent patent claims.

[0002] Telecommunication systems, in particular digital mobile radiosystems, are enjoying increasing popularity since they ensure thatsubscribers can nearly always be reached and be reached at any place.Apart from the basic function of telephony, modern mobile radio terminalsets offer many additional services such as news headlines service,telefax, e-mail and central announcement and information services, inwhich the subscriber can call up current information by dialing aspecific telephone number.

[0003] Other services and additional functions are also known. From DE44 13 974 A1 and published patents building thereon, for example DE 19629 535 C2, telephone handsets of a wireless telephone installation ormobile telephone are known which have either an emergency call key and astore for an emergency text and/or a multifunction key, via whichcontrol programs can be activated, which are stored in a read-onlymemory or a programmable store of the handset.

[0004] Since it cannot be assumed that all terminal device manufacturerswill carry out the further development of their terminal devicesaccording to identical criteria, but rather aim for differentiationagainst their competitors, for the potential user of such terminaldevices and the functions (for example monitoring functions) which canbe activated via such, the disadvantage is encountered of not being ableto freely select a terminal device supplier. The primary implementationof such functions in wireless handsets moreover represents a restrictionin the utilization of such functions.

[0005] The invention has as its object to propose a method for operatinga telecommunication system and a corresponding telecommunication system,with which the utilization of one or several different additionalservices is possible independently of the employed communication systemand telecommunication terminal devices.

[0006] The posed problem is solved according to the invention throughthe characteristics of the independent patent claims.

[0007] The method and the telecommunication system according to theinvention are distinguished thereby that in the central device one orseveral control programs are stored, with the control programs beingactivatable or deactivatable through signals of the telecommunicationterminal device in order to initiate one or several functions in thetelecommunication terminal device, the central device and/or in othertelecommunication terminal devices or to terminate the function.

[0008] The advantage of the invention lies in the utilization of centraldevices in the form of control units, which can be implemented indiverse telecommunication networks corresponding to the succeedingapplications/functions and in which different control programs arestored, which are activatable from any desired telecommunicationterminal devices and which in the terminal devices, the central deviceand/or other terminal devices initiate functions which make possible theutilization of monitoring and other additional functions in a general,device-independent form or which are deactivatable for the terminationof the functions. The functions can therein include utilizing andtransmitting information such as voice, data, text, video, etc.

[0009] The described method is independent of the type oftelecommunication system, for example mobile radio system and/orland-line network, and also independent of the employedtelecommunication terminal devices and telecommunication carriers. Byutilizing (activation/control) central control units on one or ondifferent device-independent communication carrier systems, differentservices can be utilized individually or several simultaneously with oneor, depending on the service, with several terminal devices and setsavailable on the market.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the control programsin the central device are activated by signals of the telecommunicationterminal device, which are triggered via specific keys, such as functionkeys, programmable keys and/or speed-dial keys of the telecommunicationterminal device. The signals can alternatively be triggered by voiceinput or also by specific events, for example, under time control.

[0011] A feasible control program operates as a room monitoring program,in which a call indicator device of the telecommunication terminaldevice is switched mute, a volume level device succeeding a microphoneof this terminal device is activated for generating a sound signal if anoise level acquired by the microphone exceeds a predetermined noiselevel, by means of the sound signal the dialing of a call number storedin the terminal device of the central device is activated and aconnection to the central device is established, and a call number savedthere is dialed after passage of a predetermined time period. Thisfunction is useful for example for monitoring infants and small childrenor for burglary monitoring.

[0012] After activation of the room monitoring program and after dialingthe stored call number, a confirmation message is advantageously outputon the part of the dialed call number back to the central device or tothe telecommunication terminal device. It is therein provided that inthe absence of a confirmation by the call number or a dialed connection,the calling process is optionally also repeated to other previouslydefined call numbers at previously defined time intervals, and thecentral unit saves the dialing processes to the call number togetherwith information regarding time. The saved calling processes can becalled up from the central unit together with the time information.Therewith a check of the proper working order of the room monitoringfunction is possible.

[0013] Another control program provided according to the inventionoperates as an active emergency call program, in which one or severalspecific keys of the telecommunication terminal device have the functionof an emergency call key, upon the actuation of which an emergency callsignal is sent to the central device, which forwards this emergency callfurther to a call number stored in the control program of the centralunit.

[0014] In the event the active emergency call program is activated, itcan be provided that upon actuation of a specific key an emergency callnumber, stored in the central device is dialed, to which a message savedin the central device is sent.

[0015] Another control program provided according to the inventionoperates as a person monitoring program, in which one or severalspecific keys of the terminal device have the function of a reset key,and in a monitoring program of the central device an emergency signal ordialing to a call number stored in the central unit is generated if thereset key, after activation of the person monitoring program, is notactuated within a period of time presettable by a timer in the centralunit, and the presettably period of time starts anew if the reset key isactuated. Thereby the monitoring of a person, for example of ill or oldpeople, is possible.

[0016] A further development of the invention provides a warning device,which, with activated person monitoring program in the central device,after passage of a presettable time interval during a warning intervalgenerates a visual and/or acoustic warning signal, wherein an emergencysignal is generated if the reset key after the start of the warningsignal is not actuated within a warning interval, and the time intervalafter actuation of the reset key starts over again.

[0017] It can further be provided that, with the person monitoringprogram activated, in the presence of an emergency signal apredetermined emergency call number is dialed and to this numberinformation or a message stored in the program of a central device issent.

[0018] According to the invention further a control program is developedas a passive emergency call program, in which a motion sensor isprovided for generating a motion signal, a threshold value devicesucceeding the motion sensor generates a trigger signal if the motionsignal during a predetermined time period is below a predeterminedthreshold value, and, in the presence of the trigger signal, a deviceactivates the transmitting/receiving unit of the telecommunicationterminal device for sending a call signal to the central device or otherterminal devices.

[0019] The motion sensor can advantageously be developed as anacceleration sensor or a position sensor and can be externally connectedto the telecommunication terminal device or be integrated in it.

[0020] The activated passive emergency call program preferably generatesan emergency signal in the central device or a call to a call numberstored in the central unit. The emergency call signal can therein be anacoustic signal output over the loudspeaker of the telecommunicationterminal device.

[0021] With the passive emergency call program activated, it can furtherbe provided that, together with the call signal, information stored inthe program of a central device is sent to any desired receiver.

[0022] A further development of the invention provides that the locationof the telecommunication terminal device is automatically acquired bymeans of known position finding methods, for example GPS, bearingtaking, timing the interval between transmission and echo return, etc.,by the central device and/or the telecommunication terminal device, isprocessed and made available to the control programs.

[0023] In another further development of the invention a call forwardingdevice is provided in the central unit, which, for example with the roommonitoring program activated, forwards incoming calls to anotherterminal device. Further, in the control program of the central device afunction for the recognition of specific calls or call numbers can beset up, wherein in the presence of a specific call without activation ofthe call indicator device a connection of the caller with the calledtelecommunication terminal device is established.

[0024] In the telecommunication terminal device advantageously a storagepackage is available, which, for example with the room monitoringprogram activated, saves signals picked up by a microphone and/or acamera of the terminal device if a threshold value is exceeded until aconnection from the terminal device via the central device to anotherterminal device has been established. Further, a device can be providedwhich, via the central device, establishes a connection to the otherterminal device and transmits the saved signals to the other terminaldevice.

[0025] The storage function can also be assumed by the central device ifa connection between the sending telecommunication terminal device andthe central device has already been established.

[0026] As a cost control measure for the subscriber it is furtherpossible that a connection time limitation device settable by thesubscriber in a central device is provided, which, for example with theroom monitoring program activated, interrupts the connection betweentelecommunication terminal device and central device and/or othertelecommunication terminal devices if a presettable fee or time limithas been exceeded.

[0027] An embodiment example of the invention will be explained in thefollowing in conjunction with several Figures in the drawing. Based onthe Figures and their description further characteristics and advantagesof the invention are evident. Therein depict:

[0028]FIG. 1 a schematic overview over the telecommunication systemaccording to the invention,

[0029]FIG. 2 the schematic structure of the telecommunication system,

[0030]FIG. 3 representation of room monitoring with the application ofthe method and the telecommunication system according to the invention,

[0031]FIG. 4 schematic representation of a communication terminal setfor application with the method according to the invention.

[0032] In FIG. 1 a schematic overview over the telecommunication systemaccording to the invention is shown. With his telecommunication terminaldevice 1 the customer communicates across a communication network 2 witha central device 3. The communication network 2 can therein beoptionally a land-line network or a mobile radio network or anothersuitable communication network.

[0033] In addition to general devices and functions, various controlprograms are stored in the central device 3, which can be activated ordeactivated by signals of the telecommunication terminal device 1 inorder to initiate one or several functions in the telecommunicationterminal device 1, the central device 3 and/or in othertelecommunication terminal devices or to switch these functions passiveor to terminate them. Apart from these control programs, the centraldevice 3 comprises functions for storage and authentication of thesubscriber or his terminal device 1, functions for the storage of dataof the customer or information of the terminal device 1, functions forthe storage of programs, functions for storage of customer data orbusiness terms, a list about the performance characteristics of thecontrol programs, an activation mode controllable by the subscriber orthe terminal device 1 as well as a corresponding deactivation mode forthe functions in the central device 3.

[0034]FIG. 2 shows the schematic structure of the telecommunicationsystem wherein at the center are located the central unit or the centralunits 3 with the corresponding control programs. By means of suitabletelecommunication terminal devices 4, 5, which can be developed asland-line network terminal devices 4 or mobile terminal devices 5, overthe particular telecommunication network, which means, land-line network6 or mobile radio network 7, a connection can be established to thecentral unit 3. This connection is triggered or activated throughsignals of the telecommunication terminal devices 4, 5, whereuponpreferably specific functions are initiated in the telecommunicationterminal device 4, 5. These functions which are initiated in thetelecommunication terminal devices 4, 5 are initiated and controlled bycontrol programs 8 to 14 held in the central unit 3, whereincorresponding information or control programs for the control of thetelecommunication terminal devices 4, 5 are sent over the communicationnetwork 6, 7 to the corresponding terminal device 4, 5.

[0035] The central unit 3 comprises according to the invention afunction of call forwarding, which ensures that in the presence of acall, for example for the telecommunication terminal set 4, via its callnumber the customary acoustic and/or visual call indicator deviceremains mute and the call is forwarded to another call numberpredetermined by the subscriber or owner of the terminal device 4.

[0036] A room monitoring program 9 offers the capability of transmittingfor example noises, picked up by the microphone of the terminal device4, over the telecommunication network 6 to the central unit 3 andfurther over a telecommunication network 16 to another terminal device19, which terminal device by identification of its call number can befreely preset by the user of the terminal device 4.

[0037] The acoustic monitoring signals of the terminal device 4 can alsobe placed into intermediate storage in a storage module 15 of thecentral unit 3 and be made available to be called up by, for example,the terminal device 19. By means of a general monitoring program 13 itcan be provided that the subscriber of the terminal device 4, whose callnumber is saved in the central unit, can establish from any desiredterminal device 19 a connection via the central unit 3 to the terminaldevice 4 and thereby a connection with the microphone and theloudspeaker of the terminal device 4 is established such that thesubscriber has direct access to the room to be monitored, in which theterminal device 4 is located.

[0038] A further program module in the central unit 3 is the activeemergency call program 10, which is activated if, for example, in theterminal device 4 a specific emergency call key is actuated, such thatsubsequently steps predetermined by the active emergency call program 10are initiated and executed by the central unit 3, for example theestablishment of a connection over the mobile radio network 17 to amobile terminal set 20, with which the emergency call of the terminaldevice 4 is received.

[0039] A further program module is the person monitoring program 11,which can be activated for example through the terminal device 5.Therein a key of the terminal device 5 has the function of a delete keyand in the central device 3 an emergency signal is generated if thedelete key of the terminal device 5 after activation of the personmonitoring program 11, is not actuated within a time period presettablythrough a timer, wherein the presettable time period starts anew if thedelete key is actuated. The timer can therein either be disposed in theterminal device 5 or in the central unit 3.

[0040] In connection with for example the terminal device 5 and a motionsensor connected with the terminal device 5, a passive emergency callprogram 12 makes possible to generate an emergency call signal if themotion sensor does not output a sufficient motion signal for a specificperiod of time. This makes it possible for the terminal device 5 tooutput an emergency call signal even if its carrier is no longer in theposition to operate it.

[0041] A further program module provided in the central unit 3 is themonitoring of the connection time 14, wherein by the subscriber theconnection between telecommunication device, for example 4, and centraldevice 3 and/or other telecommunication devices 19, is interrupted if apresettable fee or time limit has been exceeded.

[0042] A program module of the central unit 3 will now be described inconjunction with the room monitoring 9. In a first method step 21 theactivation of the room monitoring program 9 takes place by actuation bythe subscriber of a function key 37 of a terminal device 31 (cf. FIG.4). This activation initiates a communication connection between theterminal device over a telecommunication network to the central device 3(cf. FIG. 2). After the connection has been established, authenticationof the subscriber is performed in the central unit 3 according to methodstep 22. If the subscriber is authorized to utilize the room monitoringfunction, a muting of the call indicator device of terminal device 31preferably takes place, in order for the person to be monitored, forexample an infant, not to be disturbed (step 23, 24). If muting is notdesired, method step 24 is omitted, and the procedure moves to methodstep 25, which offers the capability of forwarding the signals picked upby the terminal device 31 into a store 15, 46, which is either disposedin terminal device 31 or the central unit 3.

[0043] If such is desired, the forwarding of the signals picked up bythe terminal device, takes place into the store (step 26). If such isnot desired, a query takes place by the central unit of the call numberof the terminal device to be dialed to which the acoustic signals pickedup by the terminal device 31 are to be transmitted (step 27).Subsequently the execution proper of the room monitoring program in thecentral unit 3 (step 28) takes place, wherein via a telecommunicationnetwork 16 the connection to a terminal device 19 is established basedon the call number to be dialed (FIG. 2). However, preferably aconnection is only set up between the terminal devices 31 and 19 if thenoise level picked up by the terminal device 31 exceeds a certainthreshold value. If the room monitoring program is no longer desired,then according to step 29 the deactivation of the program takes placevia a repeat authentication (step 30) of the corresponding subscriber.

[0044] Activation of the different program modules as well as also theoutput via a terminal set can take place via the land-line networktransmission route (terminal device 4 and telecommunication network 6)as well as also via the mobile radio transmission route (terminal device5 and telecommunication network 7). The mixed utilization of landlinenetwork transmission route and mobile radio transmission route is alsopossible.

[0045]FIG. 4 depicts a schematic representation of a communicationterminal set 31 for use with the method according to the invention. Thecommunication terminal set 31 can be developed in the form of a mobileradio terminal set, which comprises an operating part and asoftware/hardware module 42, which are accommodated in a common housing(not shown).

[0046] The mobile telephone 31 comprises a loudspeaker 32, a displayunit 33, a keypad 34, different multifunction or special keys 35 to 38,such as emergency call key, reset key, function key and speed-dial key,as well as a microphone 39. The software/hardware module 42 of themobile telephone 31 can comprise different devices and functions, suchas for example a device for voice recognition 43, a device 44 fordetecting a certain volume level of the microphone 39, a device 45 fordetecting a threshold value of externally or internally generatedsignals, a store device 46, a GPS position finding system 47 as well asa timer 48. To the mobile telephone 31 can be connected as externalmodules for example a motion sensor 40 as well as a camera module 41,which can also be integrated in the mobile telephone. Legends 1Telecommunication terminal device 2 Telecommunication network 3 Centralunit 4 Terminal device (land line) 5 Terminal device (mobile) 6Telecommunication network (land line) 7 Telecommunication network(mobile) 8 Program module 9 Program module 10 Program module 11 Programmodule 12 Program module 13 Program module 14 Program module 15 Storagemodule 16 Telecommunication network (land line) 17 Telecommunicationnetwork (mobile) 18 Network transition 19 Terminal device (land line) 20Terminal device (mobile) 21 Method step 22 Method step 23 Method step 24Method step 25 Method step 26 Method step 27 Method step 28 Method step29 Method step 30 Method step 31 Mobile radio terminal set 32Loudspeaker 33 Display device 34 Keypad 35 Emergency call key 36 Resetkey 37 Function key 38 Speed-dial key 39 Microphone 40 Motion sensor 41Camera module 42 Software/hardware module 43 Voice recognition 44 Volumelevel detection 45 Threshold value detection 46 Store 47 GPS positionfinding 48 Timer

1. Method for the operation of a telecommunication system with at leastone central device and at least one telecommunication terminal device,which is developed for communication with the central device and/orother telecommunication terminal devices, characterized in that in thecentral device (3) one or several control programs (8-14) are stored,wherein the control programs are activatable by signals of thetelecommunication terminal device (1; 4; 5) in order to initiate one orseveral functions in the telecommunication terminal device, the centraldevice and/or in other telecommunication terminal devices (19; 20). 2.Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control programsare activated by signals of the telecommunication terminal device, whichare triggered by specific keys, such as function keys, programmable keysand/or speed-dial keys of the telecommunication terminal device. 3.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that the control programs are activated by signals ofthe telecommunication terminal device, which are triggered by voiceinput or by specific events.
 4. Method as claimed in one or several ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that a control program operatesas a room monitoring program, in which a call indicator device of thetelecommunication terminal device is muted, a volume level devicesucceeding a microphone of this terminal device for generating a soundsignals upon a noise level picked up by the microphone exceeding apredetermined one, is activated, and, by means of the sound signal, thedialing of a call number of the central device, saved in the terminaldevice, is activated and a connection to the central device isestablished, and a call number contained in the control program savedthere is dialed after passage of a predetermined period of time. 5.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that, after activation of the room monitoring programand after dialing the stored call number, a confirmation message is sentby the dialed call number.
 6. Method as claimed in one or several of thepreceding claims, characterized in that in the absence of confirmationby the call number or a dialed connection, the dialing process isrepeated at previously defined time intervals, and the central unitsaves the dialing processes to the call number together with timeinformation.
 7. Method as claimed in one or several of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the saved dialing processes can be calledup from the central unit together with the time information.
 8. Methodas claimed in one or several of the preceding claims, characterized inthat a control program operates as an active emergency call program, inwhich one or several specific keys of the telecommunication terminaldevice have the function of an emergency call key, upon the actuation ofwhich an emergency call signal is sent to the central device, whichforwards this emergency call to at least one call number stored in thecontrol program of the central unit.
 9. Method as claimed in one orseveral of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with the activeemergency call program activated, upon actuation of a specific key ofthe terminal device an emergence call number stored in the centraldevice is dialed and a message stored in the central device is sent to aspecific receiver.
 10. Method as claimed in one or several of thepreceding claims, characterized in that a control program operates as aperson monitoring program, in which one or several specific keys of theterminal device have the function of a reset key, and in a monitoringprogram of the central device an emergency signal or dialing a callnumber stored in the central unit is generated if the reset key, afteractivation of the person monitoring program, is not actuated within atime period presettably by a timer, wherein the presettable time periodstarts anew if the reset key is actuated within the time period. 11.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that a warning device is provided, which, with theperson monitoring program activated in the central device after passageof a predetermined time interval during a warning interval, generates avisual and/or acoustic warning signal, wherein an emergency signal isgenerated if the reset key is not actuated after the start of thewarning signal within a warning interval, wherein the time intervalstarts anew after actuation of the reset key.
 12. Method as claimed inone or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with theperson monitoring program activated, in the event of an emergency signalat least one predetermined emergency call number is dialed and to it issent information or a message stored in the program of a central device.13. Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that a control program operates as a passive emergencycall program, in which a motion sensor is provided for generating amotion signal, a threshold value device succeeding the motion sensorgenerates a trigger signal if the motion signal during a predeterminedtime period is below a predetermined threshold value, and, in thepresence of the trigger signal, a device activates the telecommunicationterminal device for sending a call signal to the central device or otherterminal devices.
 14. Method as claimed in one or several of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the motion sensor is anacceleration sensor or a position sensor.
 15. Method as claimed in oneor several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motionsensor can be externally connected to the telecommunication terminaldevice.
 16. Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that through the call signal in the central unit apassive emergency call program is activated, which generates anemergency signal or a call to at least one call number stored in thecentral unit.
 17. Method as claimed in one or several of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the emergency call signal is an acousticsignal output via a loudspeaker of the telecommunication terminaldevice.
 18. Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that, with the passive emergency call programactivated, together with the call signal information stored in theprogram of a central device is sent to any desired receiver.
 19. Methodas claimed in one or several of the preceding claims, characterized inthat the location of the telecommunication terminal device isautomatically acquired by means of known position finding methods by thecentral device and/or the telecommunication terminal device, isprocessed and made available to the control programs.
 20. Method asclaimed in one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in thata call forwarding device is provided in the central unit, which, withthe room monitoring program activated, forwards incoming calls toanother terminal device.
 21. Method as claimed in one or several of thepreceding claims, characterized in that in the control program of thecentral device a function is set up for the detection of specific callsor call numbers, wherein with a predetermined call without activation ofthe call indicator device a connection of the caller to thetelecommunication terminal device is established.
 22. Method as claimedin one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that in thetelecommunication terminal device a storage package is present, which,with the room monitoring program activated, saves signals picked up by amicrophone and/or a camera of the terminal device when a threshold valueis exceeded, as long as a connection via a central device to anotherterminal device is established, and/or a device is available, which viathe central device establishes a connection to the other terminal deviceand transmits the saved signals to this other terminal device. 23.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that the storage function is assumed by the centraldevice as soon as a connection between the sending telecommunicationterminal device and the central device is established.
 24. Method asclaimed in one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in thatin the central device a connection time limitation device settably bythe subscriber is provided, which interrupts the connection betweentelecommunication terminal device and central device and/or othertelecommunication terminal devices if a presettable fee or time limit isexceeded.
 25. Telecommunication system with at least one central deviceand at least one telecommunication terminal device, which is developedfor communication with the central device and/or other telecommunicationterminal devices, characterized in that in the central device (3) one orseveral control programs (8-14) are stored, wherein the control programsare activatable by signals of the telecommunication terminal device (1;4; 5) in order to initiate one or several functions in thetelecommunication terminal device, the central device and/or in othertelecommunication terminal devices (19; 20).